Retail Stores
BBN Labs helps independent retailers modernize the storefront and the systems behind the counter. That covers signage and facade improvements, e-commerce, loyalty and review tools, and retail technology planning. Each project is checked for federal, provincial and municipal programs across Canada that may support retail modernization, digital adoption or storefront work. You see your potential fit and the realistic costs before deciding.
Pain points
What store owners tell us
Losing in-store sales to online prices
Customers browse in store, then order from a phone in your aisle. Without your own online presence and pickup options, the rent pays for someone else's sale.
Inventory is invisible online
The answer to 'do you have this in stock' lives only behind the counter. So the phone rings all day, and shoppers who will not call drive elsewhere.
The storefront undersells the store
Faded signage and a tired facade set expectations before anyone touches the door handle. On a busy street, that first impression is the whole pitch.
Systems that do not talk to each other
Point of sale, accounting, e-commerce and the customer list each live in their own tool. Staff re-enter data, and nobody has one clear picture.
Upgrade paths
Where to start, in order
- 01
Make the storefront earn its rent
Signage, facade improvements and window presence that pull people off the sidewalk. We coordinate design, permits and qualified installers.
- 02
Sell beyond the postal code
An online store, or simply in-stock visibility with pickup, turns your inventory into answers shoppers can find at 10 pm.
- 03
Modernize the counter and back office
Tools around the POS, a real customer list and loyalty that brings people back. All planned so the systems finally talk to each other.
Funding categories
Programs that may relate
Retail technology, e-commerce and storefront projects may align with provincial and municipal programs. Availability and criteria change between intakes, and each program administrator makes the final call. We check your project for what's open right now and link every match to its official source before you spend anything.
120 verified programs across Canada may apply to a store right now. Here are examples from different provinces — check your funding fit to see the ones your province offers.
Starter Company Plus
Up to $5,000
Starter Company Plus pairs a grant of up to $5,000 with hands-on training and one-on-one guidance from your local Small Business Enterprise Centre.
Checked 4 days ago
Retail Modernization Project Grant (RMPG)
Up to $5,000
Ontario shops can get 50% back, up to $5,000, on modern store technology: POS systems, inventory tracking, self-checkout kiosks, CRM and more.
Checked 4 days ago
Commercial Buildings Retrofit Program
Up to $1,250,000
This program helps New Brunswick business owners cut energy bills and upgrade facilities by reimbursing costs for audits and retrofits.
Checked 4 days ago
PME MTL — Funds for Retail businesses
Up to $25,000
This fund supports retail businesses on Montreal commercial streets with non-repayable grants for new launches, model adaptations, or resilience…
Checked 4 days ago
Small Business Assistance
Up to $2,500
Boost your productivity and competitiveness by accessing expert strategic planning or launching your first-year marketing campaign.
Checked 4 days ago
E-tools for Exporting
Up to $15,000
This cost-share program helps PEI SMEs cover eligible expenses for export market development activities like SEO, paid advertising, and e-commerce…
Checked 4 days ago
New store funding, straight to your inbox
Programs for businesses like yours open and close all year. One short email when something worth your time changes, and nothing else.
Solutions
Built for stores
Retail Modernization
Retail technology that works as one system: POS, inventory, CRM, loyalty, ordering and dashboards that talk to each other.
E-commerce & Online Catalogues
Online stores and product catalogues that sell. Shopify, WooCommerce or custom, with payments, shipping and training.
Storefront Signs & Sign Boards
Sign concepts, mockups and measurements done right. Fabrication and installation quoted and managed for you.
Loyalty Programs & CRM
Know your customers and bring them back: databases, loyalty mechanics, email/SMS and gift cards that fit your counter.
Business Websites
Fast, search-ready websites your customers can actually use. Built, hosted and maintained by one accountable team.
Local SEO & Google Business Profile
Show up when nearby customers search: accurate profiles, real local content and reviews handled honestly.
Packages
Bundles that fit
Retail Modernization Package
Store technology that knows your customers and saves your staff hours every week.
Details →Storefront Visibility Package
A storefront people notice, scoped and quoted with the grant paperwork ready.
Details →Website & E-commerce Growth Package
A website that earns its keep: found locally and easy to buy from.
Details →Where you are
Funding and upgrades in your province
Free tool · 1 minute
Is Your Website Making You Money?
Five quick questions about your website, online ordering, Google presence and mobile experience. See where you're quietly losing customers, and the funding that may help fix it. About 1 minute.
Frequently asked questions
Is e-commerce actually worth it for a small independent store?
Often, but not always in the way owners expect. For many Canadian retailers the practical first step is making in-store inventory visible online with pickup or local delivery, rather than competing nationally on shipping. That answers the 'do you have this in stock' phone calls and captures shoppers who check online before driving over. We will tell you honestly if a full online store is not the right next step for your products and margins.
What might funding cover for a retail store?
Retail-focused programs across Canada support point-of-sale and inventory technology, e-commerce projects and digital adoption planning, and many cities run storefront or signage improvement streams with their own intakes. Program availability, rules and budgets change, and final decisions always rest with the program administrator, so treat any list as a starting point. We check your project for current programs and link you to official sources before you commit.
Can you handle our storefront sign from design through installation?
Design and project coordination, yes. Fabrication and installation are completed by qualified sign partners, and we tell you exactly who does what before any quotation is finalized. We manage the details that tend to stall sign projects: municipal sign permits, landlord approvals, measurements and site photos, and making sure the finished sign matches the brand and the drawings you approved.
Upgrade your store
Tell us about your business and project. You get a practical plan, a clear quote, and an honest read on which programs may help pay. It's all free, with nothing to lose.
Free No obligation About 2 minutes
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Final decisions are made solely by each program administrator.